News Archive

3/30/2015 |
Cubs add Coke to Major League bullpenThe Cubs on Monday selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Phil Coke, who had signed a Minor League contract with the team. By making the team, Coke will be paid $2.25 million.

3/30/2015 |
Hendricks hopes prospects join him at WrigleyWhile Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Addison Russell were packing up their lockers to move to the Minor League side of the Cubs complex Monday, Kyle Hendricks was prepping for his penultimate spring start. If Hendricks is on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, it will be the first time for the right-hander, who began last season at Triple-A Iowa.

3/30/2015 |
Castro caps Cubs' comeback vs. GiantsChris Coghlan and Tommy La Stella each hit RBI doubles, and Starlin Castro delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in a three-run sixth to lift the Cubs to an 8-5 victory Monday over the Giants in front of a sellout crowd at Sloan Park.

3/30/2015 |
Cubs' Bryant decision entirely defensibleThe Cubs' decision to send slugger Kris Bryant to the Minors to open the season has divided the baseball world, but the decision is totally justifiable, writes former Major League general manager Dan O'Dowd.

3/30/2015 |
Russell told to keep it up in MinorsWhen Joe Maddon met with Addison Russell to tell the shortstop he was being assigned to Minor League camp, the Cubs manager was nearly speechless. "I couldn't tell him what to work on," Maddon said. "He's that accomplished at that age. I told him, 'Just keep doing what you're doing.'"

3/30/2015 |
Offensive struggles prompt Baez's demotionIf you only saw Javier Baez play defense at second base or run the bases, you'd be convinced he's ready for the big leagues. But Baez still has work to do at the plate, and the young Cubs infielder was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

3/30/2015 |
Zimmer's lessons continue to inspire MaddonJoe Maddon got to know Don Zimmer when they were together in Tampa Bay. Zimmer was a consultant to the Rays from 2004-14 -- but to Maddon, he was much more than that. The new Cubs manager will be channeling Zim as he leads his team into the 2015 season.

3/29/2015 |
New digs at Wrigley will be adjustment for MaddonJoe Maddon is eager to get to Wrigley Field to see his new digs. "I'm curious abbout my office," Maddon said Sunday. "I keep hearing it's one-third of the size of the one I have here [in Mesa]. I like space, but I won't have space.

3/29/2015 |
As opener nears, Maddon using players in regular rolesBesides trimming the 38-man spring roster to the final 25, Joe Maddon said he'll be inserting players into the remaining Cactus League games as if it were the regular season so they can get used to their roles.

3/29/2015 |
Cubs sink Royals behind Jackson's solid startEdwin Jackson found the ballpark on Sunday, but he's still trying to find his spot in the Cubs' rotation with only a week to go in the Cactus League season. Jackson was pitted up against another veteran, right-hander Edinson Volquez, starting his first season with the Royals in a game the Cubs won, 7-0.

3/28/2015 |
Maddon likes idea of pitcher hitting in No. 8 spotOn Saturday, Jake Arrieta batted eighth, the first time he's done that this spring. It worked out well in the first inning vs. the Rockies, as he belted his first spring homer, a three-run shot. Arrieta isn't the first Cubs pitcher to be moved up out of the traditional No. 9 spot. It may become more of the norm with manager Joe Maddon's lineup.

3/28/2015 |
Cubs grant lefty Doubront unconditional releaseThe Cubs granted left-hander Felix Doubront his unconditional release on Saturday. Doubront is owed 45 days of termination pay, or about $473,000. He had signed a contract with the team for $1.925 million.

3/28/2015 |
Soler could be Maddon's man in 2-spotRight fielder Jorge Soler doesn't fit the typical No. 2-hitter mold, but manager Joe Maddon said the young slugger could be an outside-the-box candidate to fill the role.

3/28/2015 |
Arrieta, Bryant lead big day for bats in win over RoxJake Arrieta belted a three-run homer in a seven-run first and added a RBI double in the second to lift the Cubs' split-squad to an 18-4 victory over the Rockies on Saturday. Kris Bryant went 4-for-5 and scored three runs for the Cubs, who collected 21 hits in front of a sellout crowd of 15,266 at Sloan Park.

3/27/2015 |
Valaika aids Cubs' youth before reassignmentThough 29-year-old journeyman Chris Valaika wanted to be one of the Cubs' 25 on Opening Day, he did what he could during Spring Training to help the numerous young players who were competing against him for a roster spot.

3/27/2015 |
Hammel edges Shark in battle of former teammatesJason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija, teammates last season on the Cubs and again when packaged in a trade to the Athletics, joked about the possibility of facing each other now that they're on different Chicago teams. After Friday's 6-3 Cubs win, Hammel has bragging rights.

3/27/2015 |
Maddon sees NL Central as the new AL EastNow that he's moved to the Midwest, Joe Maddon knows there's some buzz about the National League Central being the new American League East, and he can't wait to check it out for himself. He insists he'd love nothing better than for the next five years to be regular battles between his Cubs and opponents regarded as the teams to beat in the NL.